SHOTS FIRE THEIR WAY TO MEADOW PARK VICTORY

Aldershot Town scored twice at Meadow Park to earn a vital three points in their battle to avoid the drop, with a 2-0 win over Boreham Wood.

An impressive first half display from the Shots was backed up in the second half with some clinical finishing, as John Goddard opened the scoring.

Scott Rendell then stepped up to double the lead from the spot in the second half

The Wood retained their 4-3-3 shape, with Ralstan Gabriel and Bradley Ash coming in up front. Tom Champion moved into midfield in the absence of captain Mark Ricketts and Danny Woodards started at right-back. Meanwhile, George Legg replaced Ryan Huddart in goal.

The Wood had enjoyed a productive March, with a win and two draws, but were looking to retaliate, following a defeat to Ebbsfleet United, last time out.

There was an early chance for Shots’ skipper Scott Rendell, who got his head onto the end of Luke Howell’s cross, but Legg gathered with ease. Goddard then sent an ambitious long-range effort over the crossbar.

Charlie Cooper had notched two assists in as many games since joining on loan from Forest Green and was looking for a third when his free-kick found David Stephens at the back post. Instead, Stephens headed it dangerously back across the box, but Aldershot cleared before Kieran Murtagh could pounce.

The Shots had been the better side in the opening exchanges and Bernard Mensah and Rendell were linking up well. The duo swapped passes on the edge of the area before Mensah struck an effort that crashed against the post.

The pair then linked up again minutes later as Mensah found by Rendell. This time his shot was on target, but Legg dived low to his left to make a superb save.

Wood were struggling to create against a lively Aldershot side and Ash looked to make something happen by cutting inside from the left, but his 25-yard effort went over the crossbar.

Legg then had to be alert again, as Jake Gallagher chested down a cross from Jacob Agyepong and flicked it to Goddard. Goddard struck it viciously on the volley, but Legg was down low to his right to save and hold.

Excellent pressing work from Gabriel saw him superbly win the ball from Dominic Bernard deep into the Aldershot half, but his pass to Murtagh was cut out, as it reached the midfielder.

The Wood’s best chance of the opening 45 came through an acrobatic effort by Gabriel. Stephens had headed a free-kick from Cooper across the box and Gabriel attempted an overhead kick, but it dipped over the woodwork.

Luke Garrard’s side started the second half in better form and were looking dangerous on the break. A marauding run from Jamal Fyfield took him past two, before he played in Idris Kanu. He looked up, but his low cross was blocked.

The Shots reacted at the other end and Howell rattled the cross bar with a fierce long-range effort, which the Wood then cleared for a corner.

The home side got the corner away and Ash broke with pace. He darted past two and fed in Gabriel, but his touch let him down and the Shots got it away.

The Shots were showing less creativity than in the first half, but were clinical when it counted in the second. Regan Booty beat Danny Woodards down the left, cut inside and drilled it low across the box, for the lurking Goddard to poke home.

Garrard’s men reacted instantaneously and could have been level, where it not for some determined Aldershot defending. A free-kick from Cooper was hooked back into the area by Stephens and Gabriel saw a snatched shot blocked. The rebound fell to Ash and he thumped at a half-volley, which was somehow kept out, just in front of the goal-line.

Cooper’s set pieces were causing the away side problems and another one found the head of Fyfield at the back post, but he nodded it inches wide.

The Shots then had a chance to extend their lead, after Mensah was brought down in the area, with the referee pointing to the spot. Rendell stepped up and fired past Legg, to double their lead.

A second shout for an Aldershot penalty was quickly turned away shortly after, as Mensah was booked for simulation.

Murtagh had once final attempt at a long-range strike, but his shot was blocked by Gallagher and cleared.

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